New London heroin dealer sentenced to 70 months

A 38-year-old New London man who was arrested in a massive drug sweep in April has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for distributing heroin.

In early 2012, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service and the New London Police Department initiated an investigation to combat the large-scale trafficking of heroin and cocaine from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico into and around southeastern Connecticut.

Orlando Santiago, 38, was one of the first of more than 100 people charged with state and federal offenses to plead guilty.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and court documents, on multiple occasions between October 2102 and February 2013, Santiago was intercepted over a court-authorized wiretap ordering heroin from his drug supplier, alleged heroin wholesaler Luis Ariel Capellan Maldonado. Investigators also observed Santiago after he traveled to a residence on Hawthorne Drive in New London to complete a number of these transactions.

Santiago was arrested on April 3. On July 18, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.